About Me

Although I haven't gotten a western made yet, there's interest in a western series I've created (on paper). If you'd like to take a look at the sort of things I write, please visit my website, www.henrycparke.com. Thanks for looking!

MY Q&A WITH INSP-TV

HENRY ON ‘WRITER’S BLOCK’

On July 30th, 2015, I was the guest of hosts Bobbi Jean Bell and Jim Christina on ‘Writer’s Block’, their L.A. TALK-RADIO talk-show about the art and craft of writing. You can click PLAY to hear it, or DOWNLOAD to download it.

ROUND-UP ON THE RADIO!

Last Christmastime I was a guest on AROUND THE BARN, and had a great time talking about the Round-up, my writing, and Gene Autry’s Christmas music. To listen, click HERE.

Other Stuff I Write

While this blog is strictly about Western stuff, I also write another blog, Stalling Tactics, which is about anything else. If you'd like to read my most recent post, COSTUME DRAMA TRAUMA, go HERE.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Just in time for the National Day of the Cowboy celebration
last weekend, the Autry opened their new Gamble
Firearms Gallery with the exhibition, Western
Frontiers: Stories of Fact and Fiction in the downstairs space that had
until recently held their Gunfight at the
O.K. Corral diorama.A perfect
complement to the nearby Greg Martin Colt
Gallery, the new display likewise examines the role of the firearm in both
the real and fictional West, but features pieces from Winchester, Remington, Smith
& Wesson among others, as well as Colt.

presentation pistol owned by Annie Oakley

Some of the weapons are of interest
because of the sheer artistry in their design and execution; some intrigue
because we know whose hand held them.Most are of interest for both reasons.For example, there are three beautiful pistols which belonged to Annie
Oakley, each covered in gold, with pearl grips.(A quick stroll to the Colt
Gallery will reveal the sidearm of her television portrayer, Gail
Davis.)

Winchester 'One of One Thousand' Model Rifle,

engraved by John Ulrich, 1879

Nicholas Beyer Kentucky Rifle

circa 1807, the George Gamble Collection

I
asked curator Jeffrey Richardson about the collection, and about his personal
favorites.“The
exhibition combines highlights from the Autry's permanent collection along with
firearms recently donated to the museum by George Gamble, who amassed one of
the finest private collections in the country. A variety of artifacts are on
display, and all of the firearms are historically significant and of the
highest quality. Besides the Winchester ‘One of One Thousand’ Model 1873 Rifle,
two other notable examples are the Kentucky Rifle manufactured by Nicholas Beyer
circa 1807 and a Colt Third Model Dragoon with an exceptionally rare mirrored
top presented by Samuel Colt to E.K. Root, his company's superintendent, in
1857.”

Cased Colt Third Model Dragoon Revolver, presented

by Samuel Colt to E.K. Root, 1857

the George Gamble Collection

Also
on display are guns from President Theodore Roosevelt’s cowboy days, and Civil
War Gen. George Meade’s Remington revolver.And for fans of Steve McQueen and WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE, they have not only his
saw-off rifle known as the ‘Mare’s leg,’ but the toy version for pint-sized
bounty hunters.This is the 25th
anniversary of the Autry, and even if it’s just been a few months since you
were last here, there are plenty of new things to see.Jews in
the Los Angeles Mosaic opened in May, and will run through January 5th.Art of the West features old and new
visions of the west, and there have been additions and changes to the permanent
galleries that focus on the West of films and other media (and frankly, a bit
more compression than I would choose).

President Roosevelt's Winchester 3rd Model 1876 Carbine,

engraved by Louis D. Nimschke. Acquisition made

possible in part by Paul S. and June A. Ebensteiner

On
Saturday, August 10th, at 1:30 pm, as part of the Autry’s monthly What is a Western? series, the
Australian-set QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER (1990) will be screened.This excellent western stars Tom Selleck, Alan
Rickman and the luminous Laura San Giacomo, and is directed by Simon Wincer
(LONESOME DOVE).Curator Jeffrey
Richardson will introduce.

At
noon on Saturday, August 24th, the Autry will present their monthly double-feature
of Gene Autry movies. This time it’s UNDER
FIESTA STARS (1941) and GOLDTOWN GHOST RIDERS (1953).You can learn about everything that’s
happening at The Autry HERE.

‘SIX BULLETS TO HELL’ WRAPS

Exec
Producer Danny Garcia tells me that SIX BULLETS wrapped on Wednesday, the last day
of July.“(Directors) Tanner (Beard) and
Russell (Cummings) will now take care of editing, adr (dubbing), and colouring
while I collect music from different sources.”Among the eclectic mix of music artists are Tymon Dogg, formerly of The Clash , who does a cameo in the
film; Alabama 3, the British band who gained world-wide acclaim with
their theme for THE SOPRANOS; spaghetti-stylist
composer Chris Casey; Lexie Beard, who scored Tanner’s HELL’S GATE; and Aaron
Stielstra, who both starred in and scored THE SCARLET WORM, and stars in SIX BULLETS as well.

“And
we're looking at getting some old Spaghetti Western tunes as well, to make the
soundtrack complete,”Danny added. “We should have a trailer by October and the
film should be ready by the end of the year; that's the plan.” If you didn’t read about this film in last
week’s Round-up, the link is HERE.

TV’S
COCHISE, MICHAEL ANSARA, DIES AT 91

Michael
Ansara, the Syria-born actor who played iconic roles on STAR TREK and in
Westerns, died on Wednesday, July 31st, at the age of 91.Suave, debonair and handsome, he was adept at
both comedy and drama, playing villains and heroes, and in recent years had
voiced ‘Mr. Freeze’ in various BATMAN shows.He appeared in most of the western series, but to those of us growing up
in the ‘50s and ‘60s he will always be the Apache Chief Cochise opposite John
Lupton in the series BROKEN ARROW.In
his second series, LAW OF THE PLAINSMAN, he again played an Apache.

Michael Druxman's tribute video

On
Saturday, when I posted news of Ansara’s death, along with a link to a tribute video
by his close friend, writer Michael Druxman, I was pleased that it was quickly
shared forty-seven times.I was even
happier to see that many who shared were American Indian/Native American
organizations and individuals.Indian portrayals
by non-Indians are often resented, but Michael Ansara’s portrayals never
brought anything but honor to the characters he portrayed. Below is a brief clip from BROKEN ARROW.

THE WRAP-UP!

That's all for now. Next week's Round-up will be a day or two early, to feature my review of the HELL ON WHEELS two-hour opener, which airs on Saturday, August 10th!

Happy Trails,

Henry

All Original Content Copyright August 2013 by Henry C. Parke -- All Rights Reserved